Firefighter saves baby Firefighter saves baby (March 18, 2005)

Mother showed up with sick child at Whisman station

By Allison Gerard

Most people don't get a high from their job, but Mountain View firefighter Mike Robbins said one of his duties gives him worker's euphoria.

Robbins was working at a fire station on Whisman Road on March 9, preparing for a training session when a resident showed up on the doorstep. Robbins is a firefighter-paramedic and is accustomed to a dispatch officer directing him to people in need, not the other way around.

"When I opened the door, I was literally handed a baby that was blue in color," Robbins said.

The baby's mother and grandmother had brought the baby to the fire station after noticing it had stopped breathing. The baby was suffering from acute respiratory distress and was resuscitated at the fire station.

"It worked out awesome that we had help from everyone at the station, all the way down from the chief," Robbins said.

Fire Chief Mark Revere, Captain Tim Harvey, firefighter-paramedic Eric Roth and firefighter-E.M.T. Patty Juergens were all present at the station.

Being a firefighter means answering a lot of different calls, said Robbins, and all of them do not have such a positive outcome. But when they do, he is reminded of why he chose this career path.

"It reminds me of why I enjoy doing my job, and afterwards, I had a buzz that I enjoyed throughout the day," Robbins said. After the baby was resuscitated, it was taken to El Camino Hospital in an ambulance and was later released.

The mother of the baby was not available for comment, but Robbins said he followed up on the condition of the baby and learned it is healthy.

Robbins explained that what he did was part of his job, requesting that this story describe him modestly.

"I don't want any buzz words like 'hero' used," he said. "I'm just a firefighter-paramedic doing my job." @email:E-mail Allison Gerard at agerard@mv-voice.com

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